Dale McKenna helping mother and child when allegedly fatally rammed by Clinton Gordon Sutcliffe

A father of three was coming to the aid of a mother and child when the woman’s partner rammed them off the road, killing the man, police allege.

Dale McKenna died in a Brisbane hospital after the crash last week.

A young station hand and father of three was coming to the aid of a woman and child in distress when he was allegedly rammed off the road and killed by her partner.

The Courier-Mail can reveal 22-year-old Dale McKenna was driving a female friend and a toddler along the Kogan-Tara Rd on the Western Downs last Tuesday in an effort to help them escape a frightening situation when they were rammed multiple times from behind.

Police have alleged the car travelling behind, a Nissan X-Trail, was being driven by the woman’s partner, Clinton Gordon Sutcliffe.

Mr McKenna’s Holden Colorado rolled, injuring all of the occupants.

Mr McKenna was flown to Brisbane Princess Alexandra Hospital with critical injuries where he later died.

The woman, 20-year-old Shakira Stewart, was flown to the same hospital in a stable condition, while the little boy escaped with minor injuries.

Sutcliffe was initially charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing grievous bodily harm, but that was upgraded to one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder following Mr McKenna’s death.

All three adults knew each other.

Clinton Gordon Sutcliffe

It is understood Sutcliffe had been away from home for a period of time and had returned the day before.

Detective Chief Inspector Garry Watts during a recent press conference alleged the Holden had been rammed “on at least two occasions”.

He said police were still examining the circumstances leading up to the crash.

“This matter arose out of (an) incident and we will be examining the relationship and the occurrences that occurred as a result of this as part of our investigation,” he said.

Friends and family have set up a GoFundMe appeal to financially assist Mr McKenna’s partner Kylie and their three young children.

The appeal has so far raised nearly $10,000 of its $15,000 target.

Family friend Leanne Gilkison, who set up the fund, said Mr McKenna had been working as a station hand to support his young family.

“The family is very overwhelmed and grateful with how generous people are,” she said.

“It’s been a huge weight lifted off Kylie having the funds to pay for the funeral.”

Ms Gilkison said Mr McKenna was a talented horseman who broke in and trained horses in his spare time outside of his work as a station hand.

Anyone who can help police with their investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Dale McKenna helping mother and child when allegedly fatally rammed by Clinton Gordon Sutcliffe